Справжні зарплати вчителів: реальність проти обіцянок | Сергій Романюк

Teacher Salaries and Education in Ukraine

Current State of Teacher Salaries

• The Ukrainian government plans to increase teacher salaries by 50% starting in 2026, implemented in two phases.

• Despite the proposed salary increase, teachers' pay will still fall short of the legally guaranteed minimum of three minimum wages.

• Currently, the average salary for educators is around 12,000 to 13,000 UAH, which is considered insufficient for nurturing a capable generation.

Legislative Challenges and Accountability

• There is skepticism regarding the enforcement of laws that guarantee minimum salaries for teachers; many laws are not being upheld without consequences.

• The lack of political accountability allows governments to propose budgets without adhering to existing legal standards for teacher compensation.

• Education remains at the bottom tier among sectors in terms of salary levels, posing risks to national development.

Budget Allocations and Future Projections

• The draft state budget for 2026 includes an additional allocation of 53 billion UAH aimed at increasing educator salaries.

• Proposed increases include a 30% raise on January 1st and an additional 20% on September 1st if the budget passes as presented.

Proposed Initiatives and Concerns

• A committee has suggested implementing a policy where teachers receive three minimum wages; however, this comes with conditions that may negatively impact teaching staff.

• To meet this initiative's requirements, there are proposals to increase teaching hours from 18 to 22 per week and introduce fixed-term contracts ranging from one to five years.

Implications for Educators

• Increased workload expectations could lead to significant reductions in teaching positions (up to 70,000), raising concerns about job security and quality education delivery.

• Fixed-term contracts may stifle innovation among educators as they prioritize pleasing administration over personal educational philosophies or discussions within schools.

Addressing Teacher Prestige and Quality

• The union advocates for fair compensation while ensuring that labor rights are not compromised amidst proposed changes.

• There exists a conflict between societal demands for high-quality education and the challenges faced by young teachers who perceive their work as undervalued despite its importance.

Discussion on Teacher Salaries and Educational Legislation in Ukraine

Overview of Current Salary Structures

• The speaker emphasizes that the conflict is not inherent but rather a reflection of how Ukrainian educational legislation is based on international standards, which differ in salary structures.

• It is noted that teacher salaries should be comparable to those in other sectors requiring similar qualifications, highlighting a disparity in pay between education and other fields.

Disparities in Teacher Salaries

• The speaker points out the significant wage gaps within the teaching profession, where some teachers earn as little as 8,000 UAH while others may earn up to 500,000 UAH monthly.

• Comparisons are made with European and American salary ratios for educators versus other professions, indicating that Ukraine's ratio can reach extremes of 1:100.

Government Responsibility and Budget Allocation

• There is a call for the government to take responsibility for equitable salary distribution among teachers to address these disparities effectively.

• The discussion shifts towards young teachers' motivation and whether current state programs adequately support their development and retention within the education system.

Challenges Faced by Young Educators

• Young teachers often struggle to earn even minimum wage despite having higher education qualifications; they receive supplemental payments just to meet this threshold.

• The speaker highlights that competitive job markets offer better salaries for less demanding roles compared to teaching positions, making it difficult to attract new talent into education.

Regional Disparities and Local Funding Issues

• A question arises about decentralization in funding education at regional levels; however, local budgets are often insufficient for adequate teacher compensation.

• Examples from Kyiv show municipal supplements available for educators but emphasize that many regions lack sufficient funds to support such initiatives.

Constitutional Obligations and Future Solutions

• The conversation touches upon constitutional mandates ensuring free general secondary education, advocating for state subsidies not only for primary but also early childhood educators.

• A pessimistic view emerges regarding budget formation practices; prioritizing educational funding over residual allocations could lead to more balanced financial support across sectors.

Addressing Regional Inequities

• The need for central government intervention is stressed; equitable pay should be established at a national level while allowing regional authorities to supplement as possible.

• Concerns are raised about potential inequalities arising from regional variations in teacher salaries if local governments have differing capacities to contribute financially.

This structured summary captures key discussions around teacher salaries, legislative frameworks, challenges faced by young educators, regional disparities in funding, and calls for systemic changes within Ukraine's educational landscape.

Education Challenges in Conflict Zones

Financial Support for Educators in Combat Zones

• The government provides additional pay for teachers in combat zones, with a base increase from 2600 UAH to 5200 UAH for those working on-site.

• There is an ongoing request to extend this financial support to educators working remotely due to the difficulties of teaching in conflict areas. Unfortunately, this issue remains unresolved.

Teacher Retention and Motivation

• Discussions are underway regarding potential incentives or benefits to motivate educators to remain in their profession amidst challenging conditions. However, skepticism exists about whether these initiatives will be effective.

• Historical promises made by the government regarding teacher salaries and pensions have not been fulfilled, leading to distrust among educators about future commitments.

Staffing Shortages and Educational Quality

• A significant shortage of teachers persists, with approximately 44,000 vacancies out of 316,000 teaching positions that need filling. This gap forces existing teachers to work beyond their normal hours.

• If current trends continue without intervention, the quality of education may decline further as older educators struggle with adapting to new technologies and methods of instruction.

Concerns Over Commercialization of Education

• The shift towards commercializing education is viewed as detrimental; it threatens equal access and quality across educational institutions. Currently, two-thirds of higher education spots are funded through contracts rather than state orders.

• Local authorities are increasingly privatizing early childhood education facilities instead of developing public options, which could exacerbate inequalities if secondary education follows suit into commercialization.

Funding Alternatives for Education

• While there is a discussion about seeking sponsorship or donations for educational funding outside the budgetary framework, it is emphasized that the state must first ensure minimum guarantees for educators before relying on external sources. This foundational support is crucial for sustainable improvements in education quality.